Hike Strong Podcast

Send us a textMy name is Marcus Shapiro, a hiking strength and conditioning coach and the founder of FitForTrips.com. Today, I had the pleasure of speaking with one of my backpacking clients, Dermot. At age 54, he successfully completed an incredible 8-day backpacking adventure in the Maroon Bells. In our conversation, we dove into the key challenges he faced during our 16 weeks of hiking training, and Dermot shared some profound insights that seemed beyond his years.What makes this episode so relatable is Dermot’s journey—he trained in and around his home in Chicago for an intense Colorado hike, with no hiking experience and limited access to trails. His story proves that with the right training, you can prepare for any adventure, no matter where you live. I’m honored to have been a part of his journey, and I’m grateful for his endorsement. Enjoy this authentic and inspiring conversation with Dermot!Ask Me How To Get Fit For Your Next Hike, Trek or Backpacking Trip:https://fitfortrips.com/consultation/Get Your 3 Free 12-Week Hiking Training Plans: https://fitfortrips.com/free-hiking-training-plan/LIKE & SUBSCRIBE for new videos: https://www.youtube.com/@HikeStrongPodcast Check out the audio podcast version on all platforms:https://fitfortrips.com/hikestrongpodcast

Send us a textMy loyal audience is accustomed to tuning in to my interviews with hiking and backpacking guides.  But today, I'm taking a detour to speak with an interesting guy named Nathan (Nate) Pipenberg. I was reading an article titled "The Best Backpacking Packs for Any Adventure" on the Outside app.  At the bottom of the article, it reads, "Meet our testers." Nate Pipenberg was listed as a tester, so I decided to approach meeting him literally and interview him for you today.  Nate writes a biweekly column for Backpacker Magazine and is the category manager for sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and trekking poles at Outside Magazine. Below is a sampling of some discussion topics:- What’s the day in the life of a gear tester?- Make your pitch about why new backpackers should go ultralight.- Nate discusses an anecdote about Glen Van Peski, a pioneer in ultralight backpacking and founder of Gossamer Gear, a functional ultralight backpacking and hiking gear company.- What inspired you to embrace ultralight backpacking?- Define what base weight means. - Comment on an anecdote from John Mackey, co-founder of Whole Foods, in the foreword to Glen's book "take less. do more.".- What is the price someone would need to spend to achieve an ultralight base weight compared to a conventional backpack packing approach?- What are some beginning steps someone can take to lighten their load?- What are the most essential pieces of gear for someone transitioning to ultralight backpacking?- Explain the Big 4 in the realm of backpacking: 1 - Backpack, 2 - Tent (or shelter), 3 - Sleeping Bag or Quilt, 4 - Sleeping Pad- What are the initial ultralight gear items to invest in?- What are some ultralight gear company brand names you recommend?- What does ‘packing your fears’ mean?- What common gear mistakes do beginners make when trying to go ultralight?- In general, what are some unnecessary items people bring backpacking?- Is there one item you always bring that you’d coach someone not to carry but you do anyway despite the extra weight?- Discuss getting in shape for backpacking, especially ascending and elevation gain.- Glen Van Peski mentioned that according to John Mackey, the third day of a backpacking trip is the most challenging, but it gets easier after that. How long does it take to get in shape just by hiking on the Appalachian Trail, for example?- Hikers rarely have a point of reference to appreciate what goes into building hiking trails.  Explain more so they can understand the process. - What is the difference between East Coast trails and West Coast trails?- What is your Musical Trekking recommendation?Nathan Pipenberghttps://pipenberg.com/Ask Me How To Get Fit For Your Next Hike, Trek or Backpacking Trip:https://fitfortrips.com/consultation/Get Your 3 Free 12-Week Hiking Training Plans: https://fitfortrips.com/free-hiking-training-plan/LIKE & SUBSCRIBE for new videos: https://www.youtube.com/@HikeStrongPodcast Check out the audio podcast version on all platforms:https://fitfortrips.com/hikestrongpodcast

Send us a textMy name is Marcus Shapiro. I am a hiking strength and conditioning coach and founder of FitForTrips.com. Today, I had the privilege of speaking with one of my Kilimanjaro trekking clients. His name is David, and he was 65 at the time of his successful Kilimanjaro summit. Our conversation revealed the elements that led to his climbing achievement. This was an honor and a pleasure for me. I am grateful to receive David’s endorsement. Enjoy the conversation...Ask Me How To Get Fit For Your Next Hike, Trek or Backpacking Trip:https://fitfortrips.com/consultation/Get Your 3 Free 12-Week Hiking Training Plans: https://fitfortrips.com/free-hiking-training-plan/LIKE & SUBSCRIBE for new videos: https://www.youtube.com/@HikeStrongPodcast Check out the audio podcast version on all platforms:https://fitfortrips.com/hikestrongpodcast

Send us a textOh, so you don’t know who Sunny Stroeer is? Do you know what an FKT is? Have you heard a clear explanation of how to hike successfully at high altitudes? Do you think trekking poles are for wimps? Sunny provides answers to these questions and more. So what are you waiting for? Click play now!In this really fun interview, Marcus Shapiro skillfully draws valuable insights from Sunny Stroeer’s expertise in extreme hiking as she simplifies the information into actionable steps. She is the co-owner of Dreamland Safari Tours, founder of AWExpeditions, professional photographer, Harvard graduate, professional endurance athlete, and set speed records across the globe.   Don’t worry, you won’t feel inferior.  She is dedicated to motivating individuals to choose challenging hikes and backpacking trips outside of their comfort zones. Below is a sampling of discussion topics:-Tell us about your Aconcagua FKT record attempt.-AWExpeditions will plot out a trajectory for women to set lofty adventure goals.  Tell me about that.  -Recall events that led to you and your husband Paul deciding to purchase Dreamland Safari Tours.-What region of the US do Dreamland Safari Tour itineraries cover, and make a pitch why hikers would love to explore the area?-What attributes do you hope to find in your clients from a physical and mental perspective?-Share your training philosophy as it relates to preparing for the challenging Grand Canyon Deer Creek / Thunder River Loop itinerary.-Let’s talk about these three itineraries and what makes them so special: Paria Canyon Backpack, The Wave Tour, and Grand Canyon Deer Creek / Thunder River Loop-Let’s talk about Kilimanjaro or Everest Base Camp because they are non-technical higher-altitude climbs, very accessible, and have a high success rate for clients who commit to do the necessary preparation. One of the concerns for many clients is breathing at altitude. The conventional wisdom is that you can’t train for altitude.   - Can you flush this out for the listeners?-Provide solutions for these three common concerns.1 - The endurance to climb uphill.2 - Knee pain going downhill.3 - Keeping up with the group.-Address how you fuel in these situations.1 - Pushing yourself for time where you want to stop as infrequently as possible.2 - Hiking at high altitudes.-Do you have any tips on using trekking poles to get the most out of them?-How did you handle injuries in the past when you had an exciting adventure planned that you might have to cancel?Sunny Stroeer / https://www.sunnystroeer.com / Awesome video Dreamland Safari Tours / https://dreamlandtours.netAWExpeditions / https://awexpeditions.orgAsk Me How To Get Fit For Your Next Hike, Trek or Backpacking Trip:https://fitfortrips.com/consultation/Get Your 3 Free 12-Week Hiking Training Plans: https://fitfortrips.com/free-hiking-training-plan/LIKE & SUBSCRIBE for new videos: https://www.youtube.com/@HikeStrongPodcast Check out the audio podcast version on all platforms:https://fitfortrips.com/hikestrongpodcast